India must develop AI models reflecting local needs and indigenous knowledge: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated a clear and ambitious vision for India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, urging the development of AI models that are distinctly Indian in character and purpose. Speaking during an interaction with leading Indian AI startups ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Prime Minister stressed that India should not merely replicate global AI systems but instead build technologies that reflect the country’s cultural depth, linguistic diversity, and social realities. According to him, Indian AI must be grounded in local needs while remaining capable of serving the world.

PM Modi emphasised the need to ensure that Indian AI models are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and grounded in data privacy principles. File Photo | ANI | New Indian Express

Made in India, Designed for the World

The Prime Minister underlined that India’s AI journey should follow the philosophy of “Made in India, Made for the World.” He highlighted that Indian entrepreneurs and innovators are not just technology builders but co-architects of the nation’s future. By designing AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, and socially responsible, India can offer alternatives that balance innovation with accountability. This approach, he noted, can help India emerge as a trusted global hub for responsible AI development.

Strengthening Indigenous and Regional Language AI

A central pillar of India’s AI strategy is the promotion of indigenous content and regional languages. With one of the world’s richest linguistic landscapes, India sees AI as a tool to democratise access to technology across regions and communities. Government-backed initiatives such as BharatGen aim to create foundational AI models capable of understanding and generating content across all scheduled Indian languages. Complementing this effort are projects focused on tribal and endangered languages, ensuring that technological progress also contributes to cultural preservation rather than erosion.

Ethical, Inclusive and Affordable Innovation

Prime Minister Modi repeatedly emphasised that AI systems must be unbiased, transparent, and respectful of data privacy. He called for solutions that are affordable and inclusive, ensuring that AI benefits reach citizens beyond urban and elite circles. By focusing on real-world challenges in everyday governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, and local commerce, Indian AI startups are encouraged to create high-impact solutions that improve lives at scale.

India’s Strategic Advantage in the Global AI Landscape

Rather than competing head-on with global technology giants on massive, resource-intensive foundational models, India is positioning itself to lead in context-aware and application-driven AI. Experts have noted that India’s strength lies in its ability to build Indic-focused systems that address local problems efficiently while remaining interoperable with global platforms. This pragmatic strategy aligns with the broader IndiaAI Mission, which aims to strengthen AI research, computing infrastructure, and startup ecosystems nationwide.

India AI Impact Summit 2026 and the Road Ahead

The upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to serve as a global मंच for showcasing India’s AI capabilities. The Prime Minister has urged startups to present solutions that demonstrate practical value, scalability, and ethical design. Drawing parallels with India’s success in building global digital public infrastructure such as UPI, he expressed confidence that India can similarly shape international standards in artificial intelligence.

The MGMM Outlook

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined a forward-looking vision for India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, emphasizing the creation of AI models that are uniquely Indian in character and purpose. He stressed that the country should focus on developing technologies that reflect India’s cultural richness, linguistic diversity, and social realities, rather than simply replicating global AI systems. By promoting initiatives like BharatGen and projects for tribal and endangered languages, India aims to democratize access to AI, ensuring that technological progress also supports cultural preservation. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of ethical, transparent, and socially responsible AI, urging startups to design solutions that are inclusive, affordable, and capable of addressing real-world challenges in governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, and local commerce.

India is positioning itself strategically in the global AI landscape by prioritizing context-aware and application-driven models over massive foundational systems. This approach leverages the country’s strengths in understanding local problems while maintaining interoperability with international platforms. The upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to showcase these innovations, highlighting scalable, high-impact solutions from Indian startups. By integrating indigenous knowledge, regional languages, and ethical principles into AI development, India is not only strengthening its domestic capabilities but also aiming to establish itself as a credible global hub for responsible, culturally rooted, and socially impactful artificial intelligence.

(Sources: Business Standard, Economic Times, New Indian Express)